Nearly 1 in 10 parents (9%) say their children are not able to eat enough due to a lack of food often or always, 10% report being unable to feed their child a balanced meal, and 15% said they relied on only a few low-cost foods.
Among parents who reported not always having enough food over the past year, 83% said they had eaten less than usual, 77% reported skipping meals, and 59% said they had gone an entire day without eating because they could not afford to.
Child food insecurity varies sharply across regions, household types, and family size – with levels the highest in London (27%), the North West (22%) and Wales (22%), compared to 21% nationally.
The SMF is calling for a whole-government approach to address the underlying drivers of poverty and food insecurity, as well as measures to improve immediate food access, such as auto-enrolment for free school meals, and tax incentives to increase food donations and redistribution.
New research warns that family hardship has deepened despite years of post-pandemic support measures, worsening child food hunger.
The survey of 2,500 UK parents, carried out by Opinium for the Social Market Foundation, found that nearly half (44%) were struggling more today to afford food than five years ago. In addition, 1 in 5 (21%) parents reported their children regularly experiencing some form of food insecurity, including being unable to access balanced meals, or relying heavily on cheap foods.
The SMF report, sponsored by Deliveroo, comes at a time when the cost of living remains among the top issues for the public. The SMF note that existing official statistics still fail to show children’s experiences of hunger adequately and are calling for a renewed focus on the scale of family hardship across the UK. Even with positive recent developments (including the lifting of the two-child benefit cap and move to expand free school meal eligibility), the scale of the challenge is such that further action is likely to be needed.
Among parents who reported not having enough food over the past year, 83% said they had eaten less than usual, 77% reported skipping meals, and 59% said they had gone an entire day without eating because they could not afford to.
Food insecurity1 varied sharply across regions and household types. London recorded the highest levels, with 27% of parents reporting child food insecurity, followed by the North West and Wales at 22%. Those who are renting, whether from the local authority (31%) or from a housing association (28%), were far more likely to be experiencing child food insecurity than those who own their own home with a mortgage (17%).
SMF findings also indicate a concerning reliance on emergency food aid. Among households using food banks, nearly three-quarters said they accessed them at least monthly.
But while uptake of free school meals, breakfast clubs and holiday food schemes was higher among food insecure families, the SMF also found support services may not be reaching all the families that need them. 1 in 5 such families said they had not accessed any formal support services in the previous year, suggesting an unmet need or an untapped access to support.
The SMF is calling for a whole-of-government, long-term approach to address the underlying drivers of poverty and food insecurity, including action to reduce wider costs for families, including high energy bills and housing costs. The think tank is also calling for action to improve food access, such as introducing auto-enrolment for free school meals, and tax incentives to increase food donations and redistribution.
Jake Shepherd, Senior Researcher at Social Market Foundation, said:
“Few issues deserve greater urgency than hungry children. While the government has taken important steps to address the challenge in recent years, including expanding free school meals and publishing its landmark Child Poverty Strategy, our findings show that family food insecurity is so widespread that further action is likely needed.
“The most effective way to reduce child food insecurity is increasing the amount of money families have in their pockets. This means ensuring households can afford the basics through strong social security and adequate incomes, as well as through new policies that help keep food accessible. While the current fiscal climate is challenging, there is scope for a more ambitious response.”
Eleanor Garnier, Senior Policy Advisor at Deliveroo, said:
“As a hyperlocal business, Deliveroo is deeply rooted in the communities we serve. Supporting the neighbourhoods where our customers, riders and partners live and work is central to who we are, which is why tackling food insecurity remains a key priority for us.
Through our partnership with Trussell and the generosity of customers using our in-app round up feature, we have donated the equivalent of more than seven million meals to people facing hardship. In addition, our ‘Felix Bakes with Deliveroo’ Community Kitchen helps The Felix Project transform surplus food into healthier baked goods for people experiencing food insecurity.
But there is still much more to be done. We strongly support the SMF’s call to prioritise tackling family food insecurity in the UK. By working together through strong partnerships and practical action, we can help ensure families across the country can access the support they need.”
